Arizona silver belt. [volume] (Globe City, Pinal County, Ariz.) 1878-19??, 1887-07-09

ducea to come to Arizona and BY as.
sociation with their red brother, study
bis habits and moral attributes, when
they must quickly be convinced that
thcir efforts toward the civilization Of
the Indian is 'time deliberately thrown
away
The reservation system is aeknowl-
edged to be a failure in that the com.
mon possession of large areas al land
encourages the Indian in his nomadio
prociivity, which is not compatible
With his advancement in agricultural
pursuits nor the adoption Of the white
mans mode Of life, and further the.
policy so long pursued BY the govern
ment 81 regularly rationing the In.
dian destroys every incentive to in-
dustry and self-yeliancS, and renders.
him as helplessly dependent as tho in
mates of a poor house.
Again tho concentrating oe lsrgs
numbers OF Indians on Reservations
strengthens and preserves their triEal
Ascendsney and makes them q danger
ous neighbors a constant menace to
the peace Of the territory in which
they are placed
fhecs IS only enc way IN which
these evil influences can be overcome,
and that is to break up the tribal ro-
lations, give TO every head Of a family
and to every male member enough
land to insure their maintenance, by
tho sweat Of their brows. Tho Dawes
Ssysralty act, passed by the last Con.
gress, if faithfully snforced would in
time solve the Indian problem to tho.
great relief and benefit Of the West,
and especially to ensanguined Arizo-
na and Now Mexico.
Under the provisions of The Dawes
aet, the Government may survey amy
reservation, except nine which are oe-
eupied BY Indians who have made the
most progress into civilized habits, and
dividing it up into sections, town lots,
and fourth-aere lots. On the compile
tion Of the survey the tribe upon the
lands Is to bs Notified that each hsad
Of a family may choose quarter-sec-
zion, and each unmarried adult an 50
acre lot within four years, under the
penalty Of neglect Of having Gov
eminent agsnt select it for him and
force him upon it. When this is ac-
';shed the occupants fec is ina
able for twenty-five years, aAd ho
.Aself becomes a citizen Of the Uni.
ted States, with standing in the Fed
sral courts, bat at the cost to him Of
all tbs advantages Of bis tribal rela-
tions, including the long series Of
treaty rights which, under the old
policy of the Government, have been
acquired BY the tribs. In other
words, under the Dawes statute, the
Interior department may force the
greater part Of the Indians to become
citizens and land owners IN simple fee
and may wage determination war on
Tho old tribal communism.
Among the chief opponents Of the
bill (says q Washington dispateh) il
DR.. 4, a. Bland, the Corresponding
Secretary q the National Indian Ds.
fsnse Association" hese. He gives tht
following warning as to the course bill
association will pursue:
Against this coerciye act We pro
test, and we are resolved to make oul
protest in the courts Of the Unitst
States, provided any Indian tribe
shoula ask as to do SO. We have higl
legal authority for the opinion tha
the act is unconstitutional; hence W,
are hopeful Of succsss m the effort Il
defeat It's execution"
The point Of antagolism is clearly
tlisclosed in bit Of the legislative his
tory Of tbs bill. When the Dawes bill
was pending in the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes, the Indian Defense Asso
ciatiea insucsd the committee il
charge to add TO 1t the amsndmen
shat the provisions Of this act shal
not apply to any Indian tribe, unit
the consent Of majority Of the adul
male members Of the tribe shall b
first had and obtained" Bat wher
the bill was put upon its passage thi
proyiso was stricken out at the sohci
tation Of tho Massachusetts, Senator
who sand that its Adoption would de
feat the object Of his statute. Thu
ths issue between the friends and th
opponents Of the laad seysralty act i
clearly made. The latter apprshen,
that if tribe protected BY treatie
can not preserve its reserve lands srcr
the rapaeity Of white men, the indi
yidual Indian cannot keep his home
stead,
Another oppenent Of the law ia Ger
Armstrong at the head Of the India
sChoolat Hampton, va. Another
Gen. r A. Walker, formerly at th
head Of the census. Gen. Walker ha
said:
'Ifthis policy of land in seyeralt
and citizenship should be put IN fore